Chapter 8

Rey stirs first. She blinks her eyes to get her bearings as she hears a light snore next to her. Her eyes flick open at the sound but she calms when a strong arm pulls her against warmth making Rey sigh. Carefully she rolls onto her opposite side. Her eyes land on the man beside her and she smiles.

For so long Rey dreamed of this moment and it finally happened. She sighs again as she gazes at the sleeping Ben, her heart filling with contentment being in his arms. It feels so right being held by him. Nothing else could possibly compare. Another light snore from Ben makes Rey stifle a giggle. She reaches a hand up to gently brush his hair out of his face without waking him. Rey's heart palpitates beneath her rib cage as she looks at Ben. She has never seen him look so peaceful in all the time she's known him. There have been glimmers, but never what Rey is viewing now.

Tentatively, still trying not to wake him, Rey rests a hand softly on Ben's cheek. Her fingertip gently brushes along the scar on his cheek, leading down his neck to his torso. A pang of guilt hits Rey as she remembers why he has the scar in the first place. In her defense, she was only protecting herself. If she had the choice, Rey would have never hurt Ben at all. Her eyes fill with tears and she tries to blink them away.

It is the past. I have to let it go…let it die, she thinks to herself. Rey returns her hand to rest on Ben's cheek as she leans forward to press a gentle kiss against his full, plush lips. The warmth of his body against hers pulls her in and she feels sleep taking over once more. She nuzzles her head into the crook of his neck and yawns, smiling as she feels his arm wrap tighter around her body.

"I love you, Ben," she murmurs quietly before falling back into a restful slumber.